"The Hurt Locker" Puts a Hurt on BAFTAs

“The Hurt Locker” sweep British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards

The ensemble drama about a bomb-disposal unit in Iraq, The Hurt Locker, dominated the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards. It won six of the eight categories for which it was nominated including the top prizes: best picture, director and original screenplay. It beat out the favorite, Avatar, in nearly all categories in which both movies went head to head. Avatar, which recently won the top prizes at the Golden Globes, only won two BAFTA awards, for visual effects and production design.

Fish Tank won the award for best British film.

The Hurt Locker’s director, Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win for the BAFTA Award for best director. Ms. Bigelow dedicated her award to "never abandoning the need to find a resolution for peace

Not all the major prizes went back to Hollywood. Colin Firth (A Single Man) beat out Jeff Bridges, the heavy Oscar favorite for Crazy Heart, as best actor. Carey Mulligan won best actress for her role as a young ingénue in the British film, An Education.

Two actors who were expected to win and who are Oscar favorites did indeed win. Mo'Nique won supporting actress for Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire, and Christoph Waltz for supporting actor in Inglourious Basterds.

Kristen Stewart of Twilight and New Moon won the “Orange Rising Star Award,” the only category to be decided by public vote.

Go to The Envelope for a full report.  Go here for a full list of winners.